Serving the Florida Keys & Monroe County
The Ticket Clinic DUI & Criminal Division represents clients throughout Monroe County, including:
- Key Largo
- Tavernier
- Islamorada
- Marathon
- Big Pine Key
- Stock Island
- Key West
- Plantation Key
- Duck Key
- Summerland Key
- Cudjoe Key
- Sugarloaf Key
- Layton
- Grassy Key
Our Florida Keys office is located in Tavernier, giving clients in the Upper Keys convenient access while still allowing our legal team to serve DUI cases throughout Monroe County.
Speak With a Florida Keys DUI Lawyer Today
If you were arrested for DUI in the Florida Keys, Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, Key West, or anywhere in Monroe County, you should act quickly. A DUI arrest can affect your driver’s license, your record, your insurance, your job, and your ability to move freely while your case is pending.
DUI cases in Monroe County are different from cases in many other parts of Florida. The Florida Keys have a unique mix of local residents, tourists, rental cars, nightlife, boating activity, military traffic, and long stretches of U.S. 1 where many traffic stops begin. Whether your arrest happened after a night out in Key West, a traffic stop on the Overseas Highway, a crash investigation, or a checkpoint-style encounter, the details matter.
Call now to speak with a Florida Keys DUI lawyer.
Same-day consultations may be available.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
A DUI arrest does not mean your case is over. It means you need to understand the charges, protect your license, and begin reviewing the evidence as soon as possible.
Call now for a free consultation.
Trusted DUI Defense in Florida Since 1987
The Ticket Clinic has been handling DUI, criminal traffic, and traffic-related cases across Florida for decades. Since 1987, our firm has defended drivers throughout the state and has handled thousands of DUI and criminal cases.
That statewide experience matters in a place like the Florida Keys, where DUI arrests may involve local police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or other agencies depending on where the arrest happened.
Our attorneys understand how DUI cases are built, how evidence is collected, and how to look for weaknesses in the State’s case.
Why Choose Our Florida Keys DUI Lawyers
When you are facing a DUI charge in Monroe County, local knowledge and DUI defense experience matter.
Our Florida Keys DUI defense team offers:
Decades of DUI and traffic defense experience
A statewide firm with local Monroe County representation
Experience with criminal traffic and DUI cases
Knowledge of Florida DUI law, DMV license issues, and court procedures
Focused defense strategies based on the facts of each case
DUI cases are not all the same. A case involving a tourist stopped in Key West may require a different strategy than a case involving a local resident stopped in Tavernier, Marathon, or Islamorada. Our job is to review the stop, the officer’s observations, the field sobriety exercises, breath or blood testing issues, body camera footage, and every other detail that may help your defense.
Directions to Our Florida Keys Office
Our Florida Keys office is located at:
91790 Overseas Highway
Tavernier, FL 33070
The office is positioned along Overseas Highway, making it accessible to clients in Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, and the Upper Keys. It is also available to clients whose cases are pending elsewhere in Monroe County, including Marathon and Key West.
DUI Arrests in the Florida Keys Are Different
The Florida Keys are one of the most unique DUI enforcement environments in the state. Monroe County has a heavy tourism economy, a large nightlife presence, boating-related enforcement, and one main roadway connecting much of the county: U.S. 1 / Overseas Highway.
That means many DUI cases begin with allegations such as:
Swerving or failing to maintain a lane on U.S. 1
Speeding or careless driving on Overseas Highway
Leaving a bar, restaurant, hotel, marina, or event
Crash investigations
Parking lot encounters
Scooter, golf cart, moped, or motorcycle stops
Boating-related alcohol investigations that lead to separate criminal issues
In the Keys, many people arrested for DUI are not from Monroe County. Tourists may be unfamiliar with the area, unsure where their case will be handled, and worried about whether they need to return to court in person. Local residents may be more concerned about their license, their employment, and the long-term impact of a DUI conviction in a close-knit community.
A Florida Keys DUI lawyer can help you understand the process and begin building a defense.
Where Are DUI Cases Handled in Monroe County?
DUI cases in Monroe County may be handled through different courthouse locations depending on where the arrest occurred and how the case is filed. Monroe County court locations include Key West, Marathon, and Plantation Key.
Common Monroe County courthouse locations include:
Monroe County Courthouse
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040
Marathon Branch Courthouse
3117 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
Plantation Key Courthouse / Government Center
88770 Overseas Highway
Tavernier, FL 33070
Each courthouse may have different scheduling, procedures, and local expectations. Having a defense team familiar with Monroe County DUI cases can help you avoid confusion and stay ahead of important deadlines.
Which Agencies Make DUI Arrests in the Florida Keys?
DUI arrests in Monroe County may involve several agencies, including:
- Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- Key West Police Department
- Florida Highway Patrol
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Local municipal police departments
- Military or federal law enforcement in certain limited situations
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is one of the major law enforcement agencies serving the Florida Keys, with operations throughout the county.
The agency involved matters because different departments may use different procedures, reporting styles, video systems, field sobriety testing practices, and evidence collection methods.
DUI Arrest & Traffic Enforcement Data For Monroe County
Monroe County continues to see aggressive traffic enforcement across the Florida Keys, particularly for speeding and DUI related offenses. While total citations fluctuated between 2021 and 2025, DUI arrests increased significantly in 2025, reaching 681 cases, the highest level in the five year period. Speeding enforcement has also remained consistently high, with more than 10,000 speeding citations issued annually across Key West, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Largo, and surrounding areas.
For drivers visiting or living in the Florida Keys, these trends show that law enforcement agencies throughout Monroe County remain highly active on US 1 and local roadways, especially during tourism peaks, holidays, and late night hours.
How a Florida Keys DUI Lawyer Can Challenge the Case
A DUI charge can often be challenged. The strongest defense strategy depends on the facts, but common issues include:
- Whether the officer had a lawful reason to stop you
Whether the officer had enough evidence to expand the stop into a DUI investigation - Whether field sobriety exercises were properly explained and administered
- Whether body camera or dash camera footage supports the officer’s report
- Whether breath testing procedures were followed
- Whether blood or urine evidence was legally obtained
- Whether the arrest involved medical, fatigue, injury, language, or environmental factors
- Whether the State can prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt
In some cases, evidence may be excluded. In other cases, charges may be reduced. In some cases, the DUI may be dismissed.
Do You Have Only 10 Days to Protect Your License?
Yes. After a DUI arrest in Florida, you may have only 10 days to request a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
This deadline is separate from your criminal case. Missing it can result in an automatic administrative license suspension before your court case is resolved.
This is one of the biggest reasons to contact a DUI lawyer quickly after an arrest in the Florida Keys.
What Penalties Can You Face for a DUI in Monroe County?
A DUI conviction in Florida can lead to serious penalties, including:
- Driver’s license suspension
- Fines and court costs
- Probation
- DUI school
- Community service
- Vehicle impoundment
- Ignition interlock device requirements
- Increased insurance costs
Possible jail time - A permanent criminal record
The exact penalties depend on the facts of the case, including whether there was a crash, whether the breath or blood alcohol level was elevated, whether there was a prior DUI, whether a minor was in the vehicle, and whether anyone was injured.
Tourists Arrested for DUI in the Florida Keys
Many DUI arrests in the Florida Keys involve visitors. Someone may be in town for vacation, a wedding, a fishing trip, Fantasy Fest, spring break, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or a weekend in Key West.
If you live outside Monroe County or outside Florida, a DUI arrest in the Keys can be especially stressful. You may be worried about travel, court dates, your home-state license, rental car issues, and whether the case can be handled without repeated trips back to the Keys.
Our Florida Keys DUI lawyers can help you understand what to expect and what steps may be available based on your case.
Boating, Alcohol & Criminal Charges in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are also one of the most active boating regions in the state. While this page focuses on DUI, alcohol-related investigations in Monroe County may also involve boating under the influence, marine patrol stops, dockside investigations, boating accidents, or related criminal allegations.
Affordable DUI Defense in the Florida Keys
Hiring a DUI lawyer may be more affordable than many people expect, especially when compared to the long-term cost of a DUI conviction.
A DUI conviction can affect your license, insurance rates, employment opportunities, professional licensing, travel, and reputation. For many clients, the cost of doing nothing can be much higher than the cost of hiring a lawyer.
We accept major credit cards and may offer payment options depending on the case.
Florida Keys DUI Lawyer FAQ
What should I do after a DUI arrest in the Florida Keys?
Act quickly. You may have only 10 days to protect your license through the DMV hearing process. You should also avoid discussing your case publicly, save any paperwork you received, write down what you remember, and contact a DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
Where will my Monroe County DUI case be handled?
Your case may be handled in Key West, Marathon, or Plantation Key depending on where the arrest occurred and how the case is assigned.
Can I fight a DUI charge in Monroe County?
Yes. DUI charges can often be challenged. A lawyer may review the stop, the officer’s observations, field sobriety exercises, breath testing, body camera footage, probable cause, and whether your constitutional rights were violated.
Do tourists need a Florida Keys DUI lawyer?
Yes. Tourists arrested for DUI in the Keys often need help understanding court dates, travel issues, license consequences, and whether parts of the case can be handled without repeated trips back to Monroe County.
Which agencies make DUI arrests in the Florida Keys?
DUI arrests in Monroe County may involve the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Key West Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other law enforcement agencies.
What happens if I refused a breath test?
A breath test refusal can create separate license consequences and may be used as evidence in the criminal case. Refusal issues are technical and should be reviewed carefully by a DUI defense lawyer.
Can a DUI be reduced to reckless driving?
In some cases, yes. Whether a DUI can be reduced depends on the evidence, prior record, breath or blood results, crash allegations, officer testimony, and other case-specific facts.
Do I have to appear in court if I live out of town?
It depends on the case, the court, and the stage of the proceedings. Some appearances may be handled by an attorney, while others may require your presence. A lawyer can explain what may be possible in your situation.
Get Help With Your Florida Keys DUI Case Now
A DUI arrest in the Florida Keys does not mean your case is over. It means you need to act quickly, protect your license, and make informed decisions from the beginning.
Call now to speak with a Florida Keys DUI lawyer.
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
(800)-625-5232